Esther Santer

View Original

A Conversation On Sensitivity // Is There A Right Way To Discuss Coronavirus?

Let’s talk about sensitivity... again. The world is hurting right now and every single one of us has been impacted by the coronavirus in one way or another. You literally can’t open social media without seeing another update, call for prayer, or Covid-19 inspired meme, which begs the question, “Is there a right way to discuss the current pandemic?”

In the span of a week, I received two critiques regarding my approach to the virus. One, I was accused of potentially causing panic by traveling with a mask and two, I was told I seem tone deaf by mentioning how canceling my haircut and upcoming staycation has me seriously feeling the effects of the pandemic. 

Let me start by saying, I hear you and I will always take your opinions into consideration, but I do need to ask at what point are we being too critical of each other during this difficult time? 

Having to cancel my haircut and upcoming staycation, while trivial, really showed me how the virus is affecting us all on a very personal level, regardless if we have symptoms or not. I work from home, so isolation feels pretty natural for me. Not being able to get a haircut; however, that’s what is currently making my life feel upside down. Our daily lives have been disrupted so much that we can’t even do something as trivial as getting a haircut. I can barely wrap my head around that. Maybe it would have been more relatable to say that my business, like many others, is basically on hold right now, but as a freelancer, I‘m used to the ups and downs. Add the fact that my husband still has to go into work every day and maybe you can start to understand why a canceled haircut due to SAFETY concerns would be the event that made me take a step back.

But why do I need to justify this? Why can’t we all just understand that everyone is experiencing the fallout differently and as such will share his or her reaction accordingly? Does every post need to address the severity of the current crisis or can we just be free to mention the effects as we feel them? 

Sound off in the comments below!


xx Esther

See this social icon list in the original post